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Ultra-coherent Fano laser based on a bound state in the continuum

Nature Photonics volume 15, pages 758–764 (2021)Cite this article

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A Publisher Correction to this article was published on 26 August 2021

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Abstract

It is an important challenge to reduce the power consumption and size of lasers, but progress has been impeded by quantum noise overwhelming the coherent radiation at reduced power levels. Thus, despite considerable progress in microscale and nanoscale lasers, such as photonic crystal lasers, metallic lasers and plasmonic lasers, the coherence length remains very limited. Here we show that a bound state in the continuum based on Fano interference can effectively quench quantum fluctuations. Although fragile in nature, this unusual state redistributes photons such that the effect of spontaneous emission is suppressed. Based on this concept, we experimentally demonstrate a microscopic laser with a linewidth that is more than 20 times smaller than existing microscopic lasers and show that further reduction by several orders of magnitude is feasible. These findings pave the way for numerous applications of microscopic lasers and point to new opportunities beyond photonics.

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Fig. 1: Concept of BIC laser based on Fano resonance.
Fig. 2: Mode patterns of Fano BIC laser.
Fig. 3: Lasing characteristics of Fano BIC laser.
Fig. 4: Laser linewidth measurements.

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Data availability

All data in this study are available within the paper and its Supplementary Information. Further source data will be made available on reasonable request.

Code availability

The code used for modelling the data is available from Y.Y. on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We thank K. S. Mathiesen for assistance with sample fabrication and characterization and M. Xiong for inductively coupled plasma etching optimization and assistance with sample characterization. This work was supported by the Danish National Research Foundation through NanoPhoton – Center for Nanophotonics (grant no. DNRF147), the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme (grant no. 834410 Fano) and Villum Fonden though the NATEC Center (grant no. 8692).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. DTU Fotonik, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark

    Yi Yu, Aurimas Sakanas, Aref Rasoulzadeh Zali, Elizaveta Semenova, Kresten Yvind & Jesper Mørk

  2. NanoPhoton – Center for Nanophotonics, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark

    Yi Yu, Aurimas Sakanas, Aref Rasoulzadeh Zali, Elizaveta Semenova, Kresten Yvind & Jesper Mørk

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  1. Yi Yu
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Contributions

Y.Y., A.R.Z. and J.M. developed the theory. Y.Y. established the importance of the quality factor of the Fano BIC mode. Y.Y. and A.R.Z. performed the phase noise simulations. Y.Y. designed the Fano BIC laser. A.S., E.S. and K.Y. developed the BH nanofabrication technology. A.S. fabricated the devices with the assistance of Y.Y., Y.Y. performed the measurements with the assistance of A.S., and Y.Y. analysed the results. J.M. initiated and supervised the project. J.M. and Y.Y. planned the research. Y.Y. and J.M. wrote the manuscript. All authors commented on the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Yi Yu or Jesper Mørk.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Peer review information Nature Photonics thanks Yeshaiahu Fainman, Andrey Miroshnichenko and Fabrice Raineri for their contribution to the peer review of this work.

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Supplementary Information

Supplementary Figs. 1–8, Notes A–D and Table 1.

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Yu, Y., Sakanas, A., Zali, A.R. et al. Ultra-coherent Fano laser based on a bound state in the continuum. Nat. Photon. 15, 758–764 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41566-021-00860-5

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